Car-coupling.



Patented July 6, 1909.

@mpg/'Moz l y @mok A. MORITZ.

GAR GOUPLING.

APPLroATIoN funn In 15. 1901.

Patented July 6,1909.

A. MORITZ.

GAR UOUPLING. unmumu FILED MAY 15.1907.A

927,423, Patented July 6,1909.

4 SHEETSh-SHEET 3.

A. MORITZ. GAR GOUPLING. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 15. 1907.

927,423, Patented July 6, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l wngaow (b/ Y w@ JOVI f @WO1/nua ANDREW, w. GRAHAM co4, Pmnmmmemwws. wAsumaron. n. c.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

ADOLPH MORITZ, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO CHARLES A. WIGKERSHAM, OF FULTON COUNTY, ALABAMA, AND ONE--FIF'III TO WILLIAM N. COX, ONE-FIFTH TO O. II. ATTRIDGE, ANI) ONE-FIFTH IO FREDERICK G. BENNETT, OF MONT- CAR-COUPLING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AnoLrn MORITZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montgomery, in the county of Montgomery and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car couplers, and articularly to the type provided with a loc ringblock, and means for sustaining the same in a lock set position.

One of the objects in view is the provision of means susceptible of easy and ready manipulation for sustaining the locking block in a lock set position and for preventing` accidental movement of the locking block from such position to a locking position, and means connected with the knuckle for moving the parts out of lock set position.

With this and further objects in view, the invention comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,--Figui'e 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section through a coupler head embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by line 2, 2

of Fig. 1, and looking downwardly, the knuckle and tail piece being seen in top plan. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same with the knuckle indicated in its closed position. Fig. 4 is a vertical, transverse section taken on the plane indicated by line 4, 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2 but looking upwardly, the movable parts being omitted. Fig. 6 is a View in front elevation of the parts seen in Fig. 5, the front portion thereof being broken away for disclosing the interior structure. Fig. 7 is a detail, perspective view of the knuckle detached. Fig. 8 is a transverse, vertical section taken on the lane indicated by line 8, 8, of Fig. 3 and ooking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of thev locking block and connected parts. Fig. l0 is a top plan view of the locking block. Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by line a-b of Fig. 10. Fig. l2 is an enlarged, detail, fragmentary section through the bottom wall of the coupler head and indicating the relation of the locking block finger thereto. Fig. 13 1s a cross sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 15, 1907.

Patented July e, 190e.

serial No. 373,746.

tion of Fig. 8 looking downwardly from a point just above the locking block.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, l indicates a coupler head of the usual external contour and hollowed out within for receiving the locking devices for the knuckle as hereinafter described. A knuckle 2 is pivoted to the head l at one side thereof by the usual pivot pin 3. The knuckle 2 is provided with a tail piece 4 having an end portion 5 extending at an abrupt angle to the main portion of the tail piece, the inner face of the end portion 5 being disposed at substantially a right angle to the outer face of the contiguous part of the main portion of the tail piece 4. A pin 6 extends through the coupler head l just outside of the path of movement of the tail piece 4 and carries a locking block 7 adapted at times to engage a portion ofthe outer face of the tail piece 4 for retaining the tail piece against movement. The block 7 is vertically movably mounted and is provided. with an eye 8 engaged by any suitable link 9 extending through an aperture 10 in the upper portion of the head l for enabling ready manipulation of the block 7. The block 7 is formed with a horizontally extend ing armv 11 having at its outer end a depending YEnger l2. The lower end of the finger 12 is flared, as at 1.3, for purposes hereinafter specified. The flared. portion 13 of the finger 12 is also bent outwardly as indicated in Figs. 'l0 and 11. The bottom or floor wall of the head 1 is apertured, as at 14, for the reception of the lower end of the finger 12 at times, and spaced in front of the said aperture 14 is a depression l5 for receiving the said lower end of the finger at other times, as will be hereinafter explained'. The block 7 is of a width adapting it to fit snugly between the tail piece 4 and the opposite wall of the head l when in its lowered position, the interior of the coupler head being sufficiently large to enable the block 7 to be raised to a position above the tail piece 4 for permitting the said tail piece to swing outwardly, the raised position of the block -being indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. The roof or upper wall of the coupler head 1 immediately above the arm 1I is formed cam-shaped, as at 16, the cam curving outwardly and forwardly and being positioned for being struck by the curved edge or cam surface 17 formed at the outer end of the arm 11, and when so struck being adapted to throw the said arm horizontally outwardly for causing the linger 12 to travel from a position immediately above the aperture 14 to a position above the depression 15.

lt is to be observed that the face of he block 7 contiguous to or contacting with the tail piece 4 is beveled inwardly as indicated at 18, so that the point of greatest thickness ofthe block 7 is at the outer edge, the advantage of this shape of block residing in the fact that when the knuckle 2 is subjected to strain the tail piece 4 will tend to swing outwardly, and striking the outer portion of the block 7 will rotate the same slightly and thus cause the arm 11 to be swung outwardly, and the curved portion of the lower end of finger 12 will thus be caused to move beneath the overhanging portion of the lloor of the coupler head 1, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 12, it being understood of course that the linger 12 extends through the aperture 14 when the locking block 7 is in its lowered or locking position.

A lug` 19 extends upwardly from the upper edge of the end portion 5 of tail piece 4 in position for striking the block 7 when said lock is in its raised position, for purposes hereinafter specilied.

ln operation when the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 3, and the car to which the coupler is applied is in a train at a stand-still, and it is desired to release the car without starting the train, it is only necessary to lift upwardly on' the link 9 which will raise the block 7 and connected parts until the lower end of the linger 12 eaves the aperture 14, after which the cam portion 17 will strike the cam 16 which is properly positioned and proportioned to engage the cam surface 17 only after the finger 12 has cleared the hole 14 and the block 7 will be rotated slightly, the linger 12 being swung outwardly to a position above the depression 15. The link 9 will then be released and the block 7 will drop until the lower end of the linger 12 rests in the de pression 15. The linger 12 is of sufficient length that when its lower end rests in the depression 15, the block 7 will be up out of the path of movement of the tail piece 4, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. The parts may then be said to be in the lock set position, that is in a position wherein the locking block leaves the tail piece free to swing outwardly, and the knuckle will uncouple when the train starts. The block 7 may be slidingly mounted on the pin 6 or the pin may move with the block as found desirable, but in either instance it is obvious that the said pin serves to prevent the block from falling laterally, and is therefore an auxiliary means to the end of supporting the block 7 in the lock set position, the linger 12 being the main means to that end, l,Viren the knuckle 2 is swung outwardly, the cam 19 in passing the block 7 will simply strike the same and lift it slightly and then permit it to drop, the outward movement of the cam tending to cause the linger 12 to swing farther outward, and as such outward movement of the linger is prevented by the surrounding parts, and particularly the front wall of the coupler head, seen best in Fig. 1, the locking block and connected parts simply settle back to their former position with the locking block in the raised condition. lllhen a coupling operation is desired, the approaching knuckle simply strikes the tail piece 4 and forces the same imvardly, and as tire cam 1Q passes the locking block 7, said cam strikes the block and swings the same inwardly moving the Yfinger' 12 to a position over the aperture 14, said cam at the time it moves the block 7 inwardly also serving to lift the block for lifting the lower end ol" the linger 12 out of the depression 15. As soon as the tail piece 4 arrives at its innermost position, as indicated in Fig. 8, the same will have passed the block 7,. and the said bleek will drop to its lower' position, as seen in Fig. 3, for locking the tail piece against movement. lt is to be observed that the wall of the head 1, contiguous to the locking block 7 o posite the tail piece 4, when the locking lock is in the lowered position, is quite close to the said locking block so as to prevent any great amount of pivotal movement thereof, only such movement being allowed as is best adapted for causing the lower end of the linger 12 to be thrown beneath the overhanging portion of the floor or bottom wall of the coupler head 1. The opening in the coupler head ishowever enlarged above the block 7 when in its locking position, the wall being curved or receded outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 8, at 20, for permitting a considerable amount of rotation of the block 7, when the said block is in its raised position.

Willen it is desired to open the knuckle 2 for permitting a coupling operation, the knucklerhaving been closed by accident or otherwise without coupling, it is only necessary to lift the link 9 which will lift the locking block 7 and connected parts until the cam surface 17 strikes the cam surface 16 and the linger 12 is swung outwardly thereby. The llared or widened portion 13 at the lower end of the finger 12 immediately engages the inner face of the tail piece 4, and as the locking block 7 is rotated, the said flared portion 13 will throw the tail piece outwardly by a slight swinging movement of the finger 12 around the pin 6, which results in a more complete outward throw of the tail piece 4 than would be obtained merely by the comparatively short outward swing of the linger.

The lower inner edge of thetail piece 4 is rounded olf as seen at 4 in Fig. 8, so that when the tail piece is in its innermost position, as seen in Fig. 3, and overhangs the depression 15, the curved lower end of the finger 12 is still susceptible of entering said depression without moving the tail piece.

The advantage ol the forwardly curved lower end of the linger 12 in its combination with the beveled face 18 of block 7 will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Ot course, it is desirable to maintain the locking block 7 against creeping upwardly when the car is in motion, as such upward creeping of the locking block, if permitted to a suilicient extent, would allow the tail piece to escape and the coupler to uncouple. When the knuckle 2 is subjected to strain, as above eX- plained, the beveled face 18 of the locking block will cause the block to be rotated suiliciently for throwing the forwardly curved portion of the lower end of the linger 12 beneath the overhanging wall, and the said lower end thereby resists any upward movement of the block 7 and constitutes a lock for retaining the block in its locking position.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally connected thereto, a tail piece carried by the knuckle and extending in position for being swung into and out of the said head, a locking block vertically shiftable in said head and mounted to swing a short distance pivotally therein, and a finger connected with said head and extending laterally therefrom and over and past the tail piece, the end of said finger being bent outwardly, and the coupler head being formed with an overhanging portion and adapted to overhang the bent portion of the finger, and the block being beveled on that lace contiguous to the tail piece for causing the block to have a slight rotary movement when struck by the tail piece when the tail piece is pulled outwardly.

2. ln combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally connected thereto having a tail piece adapted to swing within the head, a movably mounted locking block adapted to be moved to and from a position retaining the tail piece against movement, and a finger connected with said locking block, the locking block being formed with a beveled portion adapted to be engaged by the tail piece when the tail piece is ,subjected to strain and to be moved by said tail piece for moving the block and linger to a position with a portion of the linger overliung by a portion of the coupler head for preventing movement of the ringer and block to a position releasing the tail piece.

3. In a coupler, a casing provided with an opening in the bottom and with a recess formed in the bottom adjacent and inclined from the opening, a knuckle pivoted to the casing and provided with a tail piece, and a locking member having a linger adapted to be inserted through the opening and to be retained removably within the recess.

In testimony whereof I aHX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPH MORITZ.

Witnesses:

L. D. HALE, F. J. PoUNDsToNE. 

